What is Jet Stream?
Jet streams are strong currents of air moving with a great speed at higher altitudes. These air currents are very long and narrow and contain a large mass of air. These jet streams can be found in the northern hemisphere as well as in the southern hemisphere. They move in a direction from west to east and can batter the top of Mount Everest. The jet stream also has a major effect on the weather of a region.
Here, we will learn about jet streams and the mechanism behind jet stream formation. To understand what a jet stream is, it is important to have a clear idea about the air circulation in the atmosphere and the effect of temperature on the density of air.
Different Layers of Atmosphere
The atmosphere has several layers containing gases like nitrogen, oxygen, carbon dioxide, etc., surrounding the earth’s surface. The atmosphere of the earth extends up to around 800 km. This may vary depending on the different regions of the earth and its temperature. The atmosphere is divided into five layers. They are troposphere, stratosphere, mesosphere, thermosphere, and exosphere. The boundary of each layer of the atmosphere is not defined sharply. It is because the extension of these layers of the atmosphere varies depending on different seasons and latitudes.
The troposphere is the layer closest to the earth’s surface. The height of the troposphere is around 8 - 14.5 kilometers and all the weather conditions occur in this layer. The height of the troposphere also depends on the latitude. The height of the troposphere is maximum at the equator and the value of height is around 20 kilometers. The height of the troposphere is minimum at the poles and the height is around 6 kilometers. In summer, the height of the troposphere is more compared to the winter season. The formation of clouds happens in the troposphere. The temperature of the troposphere decreases with increasing altitude.
The solar radiation from the sun reaches the earth’s atmosphere and reaches the troposphere. The earth absorbs this radiation from the sun and gets heated up and radiates this heat which is absorbed by the atmosphere of the earth. The greenhouse gases in the atmosphere such as carbon dioxide, water vapour, and methane trap this heat radiated by the earth. This effect known as the greenhouse effect increases the temperature of the atmosphere of the earth.
The layer above the troposphere is the stratosphere and it extends from a height of around 10 km to a height of 50 km. The stratosphere contains little amount of water vapour. That is why very few clouds are formed in the stratosphere. The ozone layer which protects the earth from harmful ultraviolet radiation is present in the stratosphere. Unlike the troposphere, the temperature increases with increasing altitude. Since there is no turbulence of the air in this layer, commercial airplanes fly in the lower parts of the stratosphere. The boundary between the troposphere and stratosphere is called tropopause.
More About Jet Stream
Now that we have seen the different layers of the atmosphere, let us understand what is jet stream? Jet streams are narrow strong winds that move in a meandering manner at higher altitudes. The jet streams travel at an altitude of 8-11 km in tropopause which is the junction between the troposphere and stratosphere. The height at which the jet stream travels depends on the height of tropopause which varies depending on the latitude and seasons. The jet stream speed ranges from 129 to 225 kilometers per hour and it can travel at a maximum speed of more than 440 kilometers per hour. In the winter season, the temperature difference between regions of the earth such as polar regions, tropical regions is greater. Therefore, jet streams can travel in the winter season. The jet streams are hundreds of kilometers long and a few hundreds of kilometers wide. The jet stream direction is from west to east. These jet streams are so strong that even aircraft can travel easily with the help of jet streams when the aircraft is flying in the west to east direction. The aircraft travels above the jet stream or avoids the jet stream when it is travelling in the opposite direction of the jet stream.
Formation of Jet Streams
The air above the earth’s surface in the equatorial region is warmer than the air in the colder air. This is because the equatorial region receives the sunlight directly than the polar regions. The density of warmer air is less than the density of cold air. Therefore, the air in the equatorial region gets heated up and moves up and reaches the tropopause, and travels towards the polar regions. Also, the cold air in the polar regions moves towards the equatorial region. So, the warm air moving towards the polar region and the cold air moving towards the equatorial region meet each other and air mass is formed. Due to the Coriolis effect of the earth’s rotation, the air mass moves with greater speed in the west to east direction.
Types of Jet Stream
The two major types of jet streams formed most of the time are subtropical jet streams and polar jet streams. These subtropical and polar jet streams form in both the northern and southern hemispheres. The subtropical jet stream is situated at around 30° latitude and the position of the polar jet stream varies between temperate and polar regions. The polar jet stream is stronger than the subtropical jet stream because the Coriolis effect increases with an increase in altitude. The polar jet stream may circumvent the earth sometimes. The winter monsoon in India is related to the subtropical westerly jet stream.
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Now let us look at the two local jet streams. They are tropical easterly jet streams and the Somali jet stream. The tropical easterly jet stream travels at a height of around 10 - 12 km above the Gangetic plain. The air in the Tibetan plateau region gets heated up in the summer season causing the formation of low pressure at the surface and relatively higher pressure at the upper part of the troposphere. This leads to south diverging which under the Coriolis effect deflected from east to west leads to the formation of tropical jet streams. A part of the tropical easterly jet stream falls over the northeastern region of India and becomes easterly due to the Coriolis effect. The Somali jet stream is formed due to the uneven heating of the African continent and travels at a low height of 3-4 km. The Somali jet stream crosses the equator and becomes south-westerly in direction.
The jet streams are strong meandering winds moving with greater speeds at higher altitudes. The jet streams are formed due to the Coriolis effect and the uneven heating of the earth’s atmosphere. The junction of the troposphere and stratosphere is called tropopause and it is at this tropopause the jet streams travel at higher altitudes. We have also seen the direction of the jet streams which is from west to east. The two global jet streams are subtropical and polar jet streams
FAQs on Jet Stream
1. What exactly is a jet stream in simple terms?
A jet stream is a fast-flowing, narrow river of air high up in the atmosphere, typically found about 10-14 kilometres above the Earth. Think of it as a highway for winds that circles the globe from west to east. These powerful winds are caused by the combination of the Earth's rotation and the temperature difference between cold polar air and warm tropical air.
2. What are the main types of jet streams found on Earth?
There are two primary types of jet streams that influence global weather patterns:
- Polar Jet Streams: These are found at higher latitudes (around 60° N and S) and are generally stronger and lower in altitude. They separate cold polar air from warmer air to the south.
- Subtropical Jet Streams: These are located closer to the equator (around 30° N and S) and are typically weaker and higher in altitude.
3. Why is the polar jet stream usually stronger than the subtropical one?
The polar jet stream is stronger because the temperature contrast between the cold arctic air and the warmer mid-latitude air is much more extreme. A bigger temperature difference creates a stronger air pressure gradient, which in turn generates much faster winds. The Coriolis effect, which is more powerful near the poles, also adds to its speed.
4. How do jet streams affect the daily weather we experience?
Jet streams are major drivers of our weather. They act as a boundary, pushing cold air southwards or warm air northwards. More importantly, they steer large weather systems like cyclones (low-pressure systems) and anticyclones (high-pressure systems) across the globe, determining where storms, rain, and clear skies will occur.
5. What causes the wavy, meandering path of a jet stream?
The wavy, snake-like motion of a jet stream is caused by large-scale atmospheric disturbances known as Rossby waves. These waves are a natural result of the Earth's rotation and the different ways land and oceans absorb heat. Obstacles like large mountain ranges, such as the Himalayas, can also disrupt the flow and contribute to its meandering shape.
6. How do airplanes use jet streams during flight?
Pilots often use jet streams to their advantage. When flying from west to east, an aircraft can fly within a jet stream to get a powerful tailwind. This helps to reduce flight time and save a significant amount of fuel. Conversely, when flying from east to west, pilots will try to avoid the jet stream to prevent a strong headwind that would slow the plane down and consume more fuel.
7. What is the key difference between a jet stream and the normal wind we feel on the ground?
The main differences are altitude, speed, and consistency. The wind we feel is surface wind, which is often slow and chaotic due to friction from buildings and terrain. A jet stream is a highly concentrated band of wind located in the upper troposphere, where there's very little friction. This allows it to flow smoothly and reach speeds of over 300 km/h, which is far faster than surface winds.
